DON'T BE JUDGMENTAL- DO BE DISCERNING
One of the most fascinating sections of Jesus’ teaching is found in the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew records the final section of this sermon in chapter seven. It starts with a warning against being judgemental.
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Application? If you judge others with the intent to condemn them before God, you will experience a recoil of that judgement back on yourself.
It’s also interesting to note that the entire world has a strong conviction against it; both Christians and non-believers alike agree that being judgemental is bad! It’s toxic. It’s arrogant.
The next thing Jesus said is another caution to us all. If you find a speck in your brother’s eye, it should be a reminder to you that you also have issues and should focus in on your own life first. Pull out the log in your own eye; then you can help your brother with his issues!
Okay. Don’t judge! Focus on yourself first. We got it. But then Jesus shifts gears and much of the rest of the sermon, recorded for us in Matthew 7, is about being discerning about who you should trust and how you should function.
“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces”. Matthew 7:6
This sounds unbelievably judgemental! Pigs were unclean, according to Jewish kosher laws, not to mention that they are just naturally filthy animals. But Jesus did not mean it as a put down. Here is my paraphrase. “Discern those who can’t appreciate sacred things. Don’t try to share a holy moment with a person who is not in the place to appreciate it. They will just trample all over it and ruin the precious spiritual thing you were trying to share.”
In my last post, I said that there are four ways of bringing societal change. We can involve ourselves in:
Bridge Building
Political Activism
Advocacy for a Cause
The first three activities can be done with anyone who shares our vision to bring change to the world. The people I join arms with in building bridges do not have to have the exact same theology as me. They may or may not agree with my view of the Bible and its authority. Actually, they can be from a totally different faith system (Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Atheist, or from the LGBTQ worldview). We can all work together for peace! We can all work to elect candidates and support policies where we are in agreement. We can also work to end racism and or end abortion as allies in the fight. All of these activities are outside of the house of God. As a church, and as Christ followers we should be active in making change outside of the house of God.
But what about what I do inside the house?
The fourth way of bringing change is in and through the church. When I work for the unity and the advancement of the church, I am not supposed to judge, but I am supposed to discern. The apostle Paul says:
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?” 2 Corinthians 6:14-15
It’s tricky isn’t it!?
Don’t judge. But be discerning.
Love everyone; especially your enemies.
Don’t yoke together with just anyone; being joined together is risky.
Be a light in the dark world.
But don’t let darkness in your house.
Stand for righteousness everywhere you see injustice.
Keep yourself free from all wickedness.
Influence, serve, and love unbelievers.
Remember, the powers of darkness can use any partnership you have made to infiltrate the atmosphere of your house.
Jesus taught that there are four dangerous influences that we need to discern and avoid:
#1 - THOSE THAT TEACH A BROAD PATH TO SALVATION
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
One of the dangerous influences is the teaching of “Universalism” which says all paths lead to God, therefore there’s no need for the cross. No need for repentance. No need for the regeneration of the Holy Spirit. No real punishment for sin. No hell. All go to heaven.
Jesus taught the exact opposite. He said, “I am the way, the truth, the life and no one comes to the Father except through me.”John 14:6
#2 - THOSE WHO LACK THE FRUIT OF CHRIST-LIKE ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Matthew 7:15
This verse keeps me up at night! There are spiritual leaders who show up looking like shepherds, smelling like sheep, talking like they are caring for their flock. But they actually have a motive to devour and destroy the sheep. As a pastor (shepherd) it is my duty to protect God’s flock. So how do we discern who is who?
“By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”Matthew 7:16-19
Do they talk like Jesus? Are they willing to die to themselves? Do they show patience, humility, faithfulness, teachability, encouragement, and self-control? Or are they using wolf-like techniques to manipulate the sheep? Fear. Shame. Cancellation. Anger. Guilt. Deception. Envy. Ambition.
Look for the fruit. The fruit will always give evidence of what kind of tree it is!
#3 - THOSE WHO DO NOT WALK IN OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” Matthew 7:21-23
This verse is such a challenge. Some spiritual leaders may seem anointed: Miracles. Powerful teaching. Skilled in leading worship. Prophetic. But in reality they are fake! We have seen evidence of this time and time again! Powerful men and women of God who had secret lives of sin, abuse, greed, and lust. It’s not how impressive you are in the use of your gifts. It’s how obedient you are in the decisions that you make. If you really know Jesus and you are in a vibrant relationship with him, you will be changed from the inside out. Your character will reflect the nature of Christ.
#4 - THOSE THAT BUILD ON A FOUNDATION OTHER THAN THE WORD OF GOD
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27
This one may be the most important one in our current culture. Why? Because both sides of the political culture war are offering solutions to the problems in our world that do not align with the teachings of Jesus. It is critical that we discern those who are teaching us to build our houses on the sand of worldly ideologies, and those who are teaching us to build our churches and lives on the sound teaching of God’s Word!
We have to reject ideologies and worldviews that are not based on New Testament and Biblical truth. In my next post, I want to list the ideologies that are not Biblical. Yes, I am going to go there!
“As for me and my house (and the ministry I lead), we will serve the Lord!” And we will build our house on the Rock of the teaching of Jesus Christ!